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Amana Colonies scenic drive in Iowa

The historic Amana Colonies—and a easy afternoon drive through the country—await just a few miles from busy Interstate-80.

High Amana General Store. Photo Courtesy of Iowa Tourism Office.

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Woolen Mill

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A bucolic harvest landscape unfurls along this 50-mile east-central Iowa drive: red barns, hay bales and laundry flapping on clotheslines. Start with a gooey pecan roll in the Amish community of Kalona, then keep an eye out for buggies as you follow State-22 and Black Hawk Avenue to the seven historic villages of the Amana Colonies. After a day of shopping and Wiener schnitzel, take US-6 to Fireside Winery in Marengo for a glass of dry Cordovan by the crackling fire.

Easy alternative A section of the Iowa Valley Scenic Byway loops around the Amana Colonies and makes a lovely mini drive if you want to skip Kalona and Marengo. In West Amana, the road climbs a bit for a nice view.